Obituary of William J. Eyres

William (Bill) J. Eyres, Sr., 81, of Colts Neck, died peacefully on August 3rd in Red Bank, NJ after a brief illness. Family and friends are invited to call from 2 to 8 pm on Monday, August 7th at St. Mary's Church in Colts Neck. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, August 8th at 10:30 am at The Parish of St. Mary in Colts Neck. Bill was born in Newark, NJ to Irish immigrants, Patrick and Ann (Murphy) Eyres. A true "Jersey Boy", he attended St. Ann's Grammar School, Seton Hall Prep '54 and Seton Hall University '58. While in college, he married his sweetheart, Carol Hedenburg, started his family and worked three jobs to support his family and put himself through college. Who said it couldn't be done! One of his jobs, working for Avis Rent A Car at Newark Airport, turned into his career and family business. He purchased an Avis Rent A Car franchise for central NJ and the Jersey Shore in 1960 which he operated until recently. He carried the Avis "We try harder" spirit into everything he did and worked to improve life for those around him. He served as treasurer for Congressman Jim Howard, on the Board of Regents for Seton Hall University as the Athletic Chairman during their Final Four run, on the Board of Trustees for the Boys and Girls Club of Newark and for the Avis Advertising and Policy Committee. He served in the Army Reserves and was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant. He is a member of the Seton Hall "Hall of Fame" for his "armchair" support of the Seton Hall Basketball Program and a recipient of the "Most Distinguished Alumnus" award. Bill's life revolved around his family, his friends, his car rental business and Seton Hall. No matter what happened, good or bad, he lived by his motto "We're all in this together". A life well-lived by a man who loved and was loved. Bill is survived by his four children and their spouses, Maureen (Michael) Staub, Ruth (Newt) Hausmann, Bill (Erica) Eyres and Kevin (Nannette) Eyres; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; a sister, Janet Quinn; a sister-in-law Linda (Tom) Daly; several nieces, nephews, cousins and Gela Champuridze his caregiver who added 7 -1/2 years to Bill's life. He was predeceaed by his wife, Carol, his parents, Patrick and Ann Eyres and his three sisters, Mazie Bartholomew, Margaret Bien and Rose Eyres. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Pirate Blue Athletic Fund. Gifts in memory of Bill Eyres can be mailed to Pirate Blue Athletic Fund 400 South Orange Ave., South Orange, NJ 07079.